Trekkup Dubai ✔

Picture a setting sun tinging the sky with hues of red, purple, and orange, the mighty baobab striking a squat pose against the sky, its plump trunk leading up to a few delicate flinger-like branches, making for one mystical sight. One Arabian legend says the devil plucked up the baobab, thrust its branches into the Earth, and left its roots in the air. A tree so distinctive they named it twice!

Easily recognized by their swollen base at the trunk which gives the tree a bottle-like appearance. They can be as short as 5 meters to as tall as 12 meters with the bottle-trunk up to 5 meters in diameter. With blooms in the spring of large white flowers which only open at night, these ancient trees have many tales to tell, given their estimated age up to 2,000 years!

Few places on Earth offer such an intense kaleidoscope of nature as Madagascar, from fertile hills cascading with terraced rice paddies, forests of every kind from wet & rainy to dry and spiny, and a laterite-rich soil which gives the country it’s nickname of “Red Island”. With thousands of kilometres of coastline, the sea is never very far, turquoise and idyllic, dangerous and mysterious, big adventure on the world’s fourth largest island.

There is no other place on Earth where you’ll find more lemurs because they’re only found in Madagascar! Endemic to the island and evolved from monkeys and apes, they once were as large as the male gorilla! There are now over 100 species of lemurs, in all shapes and sizes, from the pygmy mouse lemur to the long-tailed Indri.

And while the signature animal of Madagascar is the Lemur, there are many weird and wonderful creatures, from the eerie-looking fossa-fossa (a cat-dog crossover), colourful and camouflaged chameleons, oddly shaped insects, vivid frogs, graceful rays and turtles, several species of sharks, and humpback whales during the winter months.
Madagascar, from East to West, from Lemur to Boabab, on the road, the river, and the sea!

Between the jagged ridges of the Vachkazhets Mountains and the expanse of the Pacific Ocean lies Kamchatka, an untamed peninsula long considered the very end of the world.

This is a place that exists in adventurers’ wildest dreams: a land where volcanoes breathe, glaciers carve into the earth, crystalline rivers flow through endless forest, and nature puts on a show that never gets old.

Tucked away in the far east of Russia, this wild land is just a stone’s throw from Alaska across the Bering Sea. Once an exclusionary military zone, Kamchatka remained closed to the outside world for decades, and has only recently started welcoming curious travelers. That long isolation has kept it astonishingly pure, a rare frontier where the modern world still feels refreshingly far away.

Here, more than 300 volcanoes rise dramatically from emerald forests and golden tundra. Dozens of them are still alive and rumbling. Snow-capped peaks tower above steaming valleys, giant Stellers sea eagles ride the winds, orcas glide through icy coastal waters, and king crabs rule the seabed. Keeping watch over it all is the true king of Kamchatka, the mighty brown bear.

This season, we invite you deep into the soul of southern Kamchatka. We will conquer the landscapes in sturdy off-road trucks, raft down sparkling rivers, sail into the open Pacific, and soar by helicopter over smoking volcanoes and hidden geyser fields, reaching places few humans have ever set foot upon. In a single day you may wander from flower filled alpine meadows to bubbling geothermal wonderlands, bathe in wild hot springs, and watch salmon leap while brown bears fish just metres away.

In Kamchatka, nature is not merely scenery, but a living force. You can feel its warm breath rising from the ground, hear its heartbeat in the roaring rivers, and taste its untamed spirit in the salt air and wild berries.

This trekkup is far more than a journey. It is a rare and privileged immersion into one of the planet’s last great wildernesses, a land of fire and ice, bears and boiling springs, where the forces of creation still shape the earth before your eyes.

Here, as we stand on the edge of the world, every moment reminds us how small we are, and how deeply alive we can feel when we stand face to face with raw, untamed nature.

Welcome to Kamchatka. Let’s go!

DAY 1 // Arrival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Following our 6-hour domestic flight across Siberia, we’ll arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. A quick drive will take us to our hotel, where we’ll freshen up and have free time to take it easy, adjust to the time zone, and get excited for the days ahead! Feel free to walk through the historic town centre, enjoy your first views of the volcanoes, or bathe in the natural hot springs, in true Russian style.

DAY 2 // Vachkazhets Mountain Range trek

Today we’ll hit the trails and explore the Vachkazhets Mountain Range, once an ancient volcano that erupted with such force it split into three separate peaks: Vachkazhets (1,556 m), Vachkazhtsy (1,500 m), and Letnyaya Poperechnaya (1,417 m). Glaciers later carved massive, bowl-shaped natural amphitheaters with steep walls and snowfields. At its base is the crystal clear Takholoch Lake, fed by glacial meltwater and cascading waterfalls, including the impressive 40-metre Vachkazhets waterfall.

Our hiking route will take us through birch and cedar forests before opening into colourful alpine meadows filled with rhododendrons, will the chance to spot gophers, marmots, and various bird species along the way.

DAY 3 // Starichkov Island sea trip

This morning we head straight to the seaport, jump on a boat and head out of Avacha Bay into the Pacific Ocean.

Gliding past the silent sentinels of the Three Brothers rocks, we’ll pass weather-beaten Babushkin Kamen Island, and round the edge of Cape Stanitsky, where the sea opens to reveal Starichkov Island. This living sanctuary is a bird paradise, where thousands of puffins, guillemots, cormorants, and murrelets swoop and soar through the skies, watched by the seals and sea lions lounging on the rocks.

What could make this day even more perfect? A delicious lunch! In our first introduction to regional delicacies, we’ll feast like kings on fresh Kamchatka king crab, flounder and rockfish. Heading back to port, we’ll stop at the city museum before wrapping up the day.

DAY 4 // Mount Camel trekking

We’ll kick off our Mount Camel trekking adventure by legendary 6WD Kamaz truck, making our way along the dry riverbed to the foothill of the Avacha volcano. We’ll head out on a moderate, roughly 7km trail, passing through otherworldly volcanic landscapes and spotting the friendly Beringian ground squirrels that come around begging for snacks.
Our walk will lead us to the distinctive, two-humped volcanic extrusion known as Mount Camel, rising 1200 metres between the mighty Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes. From the summit we’ll enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of surrounding volcanoes, Avacha Bay and distant Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
After the descent, a hearty lunch awaits at Avacha Base Camp before we return to the city.

DAY 5 // Bystraya River rafting & Malkinskiye Hot Springs

Today we immerse ourselves in Kamchatka’s purest nature with a peaceful rafting trip down the crystal clear Bystraya River. Drifting through beautiful, forested valleys, we might get lucky and spot spawning fish swimming right beneath the boats. Those who are interested can try fishing for salmon, char, or grayling, and when the journey is over, we’ll enjoy a delicious riverside lunch.
Think the day can’t get any better? In the afternoon, we head to Malki Village for the best part: soaking in the wild Malkinskiye Hot Springs, where steaming hot mineral water (up to 80°C) mixes with cold river water in natural rocky pools. Pure bliss in the middle of the wilderness!

DAY 6 // Trekking to the Dachnye Hot Springs

Our day begins with a scenic off-road trip across the southern volcanic region to the Mutnovskaya geothermal station area, at the foot of Mutnovsky volcano.

From there we set off on a moderate 2-hour hike to the Dachnye Hot Springs, known as the Mini Valley of Geysers, where steaming fumaroles, boiling mud pots, colourful mineral deposits and powerful steam jets create a miniature geothermal wonderland hidden in a steep ravine.
We’ll have a relaxing (and sightly surreal) picnic lunch amid the volcanic landscape before heading to the impressive Snezhny Bars (Snow Leopard) waterfall for photos and selfies with the cascading water.

If road conditions allow, we’ll end the day with an additional short excursion to the beautiful waterfall on the Spokoyny stream, offering one of the most rewarding combinations of geothermal activity and mountain scenery in Kamchatka.

DAY 7 // Leisure day with optional activities

Free time at leisure for optional activities.

Recommended:

The optional helicopter excursion to Kurilskoye Lake offers a rare chance to observe wild brown bears in their natural habitat during the salmon spawning season.
The day starts with a scenic flight over volcanoes and Pacific bays, landing first at the magnificent Kurilskoye Lake, one of the world’s largest sockeye salmon spawning grounds, where dozens of brown bears fish along the shores and riverbanks.
The route continues with a landing inside the huge caldera of Ksudach Volcano for a short walking excursion around the crater lakes and colourful “hot beach”, before the final stop at the Khodutka hot springs for relaxing bathing in the natural thermal river heated to a comfortable 40°C.

OR

The optional helicopter excursion to the Valley of Geysers and Uzon is a journey into one of the planet’s most active geothermal regions.

You’ll board a Mi-8 helicopter and fly over volcanic landscapes to the famous Valley of Geysers, where powerful geysers, boiling mud pots, fumaroles and colourful mineral terraces create an otherworldly spectacle.
The flight continues to the giant Uzon Caldera, a vast volcanic crater filled with steaming lakes, hot rivers and bubbling pools, providing a dramatic contrast of raw volcanic power and lush tundra.

The tour ends with a landing on natural hot springs for relaxing bathing in warm mineral water followed by a scenic picnic lunch amid the steaming landscape.

DAY 8 // Departure
Departure day. Airport transfer, bye bye Kamchatka!

Duration: 8 days + flights.
Activities: trekking, boating, rafting, geothermal bathing,
fishing, optional helicopter excursions.
Grade: Easy to moderate
Room & Meals: 4* hotels, double sharing.
Breakfasts and dinners included.

Cost: 3,100 EUR + 3,000 AED domestic flight from Novosibirsk OVB-PKC. Cost valid until MAY 25th.
International flights excluded.
Optional choppers: 105,000 RUB

Trip starts and ends with domestic flights OVB-PKC.
Visa: available online or through specialized agency at approx. 550-800 AED.

See yah in Kamchatka x

There are not many places left in the world that still feel geographically inappropriate. Lesotho is one of them.

A sovereign kingdom suspended almost entirely above 1,400 m, Lesotho is less a country with mountains and more a mountain system that eventually became a country. Roads climb into clouds, villages appear on ridgelines accessible mainly by horseback, and daily life still moves to the rhythm of weather, livestock, and altitude.
And then comes the part nobody believes at first.

Snow.

Real snow. Ski lifts. Snowboards strapped to 4x4s. Basotho shepherds wrapped in traditional blankets watching skiers descend African slopes at over 3,000 meters above sea level.
Afriski, hidden deep within the Maloti Mountains, feels less like a resort and more like a geographical glitch: a fully functioning alpine environment in the middle of Southern Africa. One moment you are crossing highland villages on horseback; the next, you are drinking coffee beside ski slopes while snow falls outside.

But Lesotho is not only about surprise. It is about scale, isolation, and cultural continuity. The country’s mountains historically protected the Basotho nation from conquest and still shape everyday life today. Many communities remain deeply connected to traditions that disappeared elsewhere generations ago.

Historically, Lesotho survived through geography, diplomacy, and an impressive ability to make invading armies regret their life choices.

During the 19th century, while much of Southern Africa was collapsing into regional warfare and colonial expansion, King Moshoeshoe I unified scattered clans and strategically positioned his kingdom within the nearly inaccessible mountain strongholds of the Maloti Highlands. British forces, Boer commandos, and various rivals all discovered the same logistical problem: conquering a nation built on vertical terrain is "deeply inconvenient".

The mountains worked. Lesotho remained intact.

That is why, unlike many surrounding regions, Lesotho exists today as an independent sovereign kingdom completely enclosed within South Africa. Even during the colonial era, the British eventually concluded that occupying endless mountains filled with highly mobile horsemen was more trouble than it was worth. In modern strategic language: low return on investment.
This summer, however, Lesotho will unfold not as a historical footnote or a strange shape on the map, but as one of Africa’s greatest geographical surprises: a kingdom of waterfalls, horseback trails, mountain passes, cave settlements, and yes… skiing. In Africa.

Let’s go!

Day 1 // Thaba-Bosiu & the Highlands of Semonkong
Arrival, immigration and transfer into Maseru. Brief orientation across the capital and head to Thaba-Bosiu, the political and spiritual foundation of the Basotho nation.
More than a historical site, Thaba-Bosiu represents one of Southern Africa’s most effective natural strongholds. From this mountain fortress, King Moshoeshoe I consolidated fragmented clans into a unified kingdom during the upheavals of the 19th century. Visits to the cultural village provide context to Basotho social structure, architecture, oral history, and survival strategy in a difficult mountain environment.
The journey then ascends into Lesotho’s interior toward Semonkong, crossing increasingly remote highland terrain. Villages become sparse, roads narrower, and movement slower, a gradual transition into one of the least urbanized regions in Southern Africa.
Semonkong itself functions as a mountain trading post for surrounding communities, many of which remain accessible primarily by horseback. A short walk through the village into the rhythms of highland life rarely visible elsewhere on the continent.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 2 // Maletsunyane Falls on Horseback
After breakfast, depart on horseback toward Maletsunyane Falls.
In Lesotho, horses are not recreational additions to the landscape, they remain an essential form of transport across the highlands. Riding through this terrain provides direct access to the geography and isolation that continue to shape Basotho life today.
The trail traverses ridgelines, grazing lands, and remote settlements before reaching Maletsunyane Falls, where the river drops 200 meters into a narrow basalt gorge. The scale of the escarpment and surrounding canyon system becomes fully apparent only upon arrival.
Return ride to the lodge and departure northward across Lesotho.
Today’s drive is one of the defining overland journeys in the country, crossing mountain passes, river valleys, and elevated plateaus. The route is a classic outlook on why Lesotho is often described less as a country within mountains and more as a country made entirely of mountains.
Once in the lodge, we’re set within one of the few remaining indigenous forest regions in Lesotho. The surrounding conservation area forms part of the larger Maloti-Drakensberg ecosystem extending into South Africa.
Optional spa treatments available before dinner.

Day 3 // Afriski & Alpine Africa
Departure after breakfast toward Afriski Resort.
The route climbs above 3,200 meters into the Maloti Mountains, where winter conditions regularly transform the landscape into a fully alpine environment, an anomaly few associate with Africa.
Afriski occupies a unique geographic niche: one of the continent’s only operational ski resorts and one of the very few locations worldwide where skiing exists entirely above the African plateau.
Here we receive equipment and have time for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or independent exploration of the surrounding Big White.
Lunch at Gondola Café overlooking the slopes is non-negotiable.
Apres ski and dinner at Sky Restaurant, positioned at one of the highest elevations for a restaurant anywhere in Africa.
Later on we descent and head to the lodge for overnight.

Day 4 // Kome Caves & Departure
After breakfast, begin the return journey toward Maseru.
En route visit the Kome Caves, sandstone dwellings established during the Lifaqane period, a time of regional warfare, famine, and displacement that reshaped much of Southern Africa in the early 19th century. The caves remain one of the clearest physical records of how mountain geography functioned as protection and survival infrastructure during periods of instability.
Continue to Thaba-Bosiu, lunch and transfer to airport for departure flight. Bye bye Lesotho x

Level of Difficulty:
Easy, available for everyone.

Activities:
Trekking, skiing, horseback riding, cultural immersion.

Duration:
4 Days.
Room & Meals:
Comfortable lodges - double sharing, meals excluded.
Single supplement at extra cost.

Cost: AED 3,740 excl. flights until JULY 10th.
Flights: Emirates via JNB + Airlink approx. 4500 AED.

Specifically Excluded:
Any expenses related to visas, insurance, meals, single supplement.

Visas:
Western passports visa free, otherwise Consulate visa.
Visa support available for anyone joining early.

It is participant sole responsibility to assure admission to country of destination.
See yah in African snow x

Siringitu or ‘endless plain’ as it is called in Masai is the name for the large savannah in southern Kenya / northern Tanzania. Each year, around 1.5 million wildebeests antelopes and 300,000 zebras start their long trek from Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains, further north to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve in search for water and fresh grass. Late July / Early October is one of the best time to spot them crossing rivers of Talek and Mara, which are a habitat for hippos and crocodiles while zebras, buffalos and giraffes graze in the neighbouring open savannah.